Reflection on patients’ needs is a necessary part of the assessment of quality of services.An interpretive phenomenological study aimed to add to the existing knowledge baseabout the phenomenon patients’ needs in rehabilitation, the patients’ side was explored,which is, unfortunately, a rare perspective in rehabilitation literature.The sample was purposively selected and consisted of twelve individuals aged 26-85years -seven men, five women - who had experienced rehabilitation therapy at one ofthree main rehabilitation clinics in Iceland. The participants were seen as co-researchersand their medical diagnoses were heart disease, paralysis, arthritis, chronic lung disease,stroke, chronic fatigue, psychological problems and pain. Six co-researchers had beenreferred to rehabilitation following an acute event and six because of a chronic state.The study was conducted in accordance with The Vancouver School of DoingPhenomenology and each co-researcher was interviewed one to three times. The endresult was sixteen in-depth interviews that were analyzed thematically and interpreted.Six main needs were identified in the co-researchers’ accounts. Firstly, the coresearchersneeded to be able to cope with the impact of their acute or chronic problems.They felt that their ability to cope was strongly tied to their own personal traits, theirearlier experience and preconceptions, knowing the source of their suffering, and toexperience a balance between sleep, rest and activity while in rehabilitation. Secondly,they needed to adapt to a new self since their accident or illness usually meant adaptingto new characteristics of self. They needed, however, in the middle of these existentialchanges to be able to sustain a personal role and needed faith, hope and optimism tosucceed. Thirdly, they needed individualized caring, where they needed to be ‘I’ and notjust ‘the patient’, they needed to be listened to and heard in a caring relationship where4their need for privacy, when needed, was respected. Fourthly, they needed emotionalsupport from family, peers and staff. Furthermore, they needed a sense of security in astable and homelike environment with available assistance, help and presence. Finally,the co-researchers needed a goal -oriented and progressive care, where realistic andachievable goals were established, where patient education enhanced their independencyand they were empowered into a new lifestyle.No generalizations will be drawn from the results, as each co-researcher's experience isunique. However, phenomenological studies can affect services by facilitatingunderstanding and reflection on the subject.